the Lost Control

THE LOST CONTROL

WRITTEN BY:

GEORGE WALKINGTON

SCENE 1: HEADQUARTERS

(SFX: Talking, beeping, typing; sounds of people working)

The DIRECTOR stands, addressing everyone in the headquarters.

DIRECTOR

Everyone, there is an urgent mission announcement.

Everyone goes silent.

DIRECTOR (cont.)

As you are all aware, we have detected a new planet that has suddenly appeared 300 thousand kilometres away from our own. A brief inspection of this planet has shown that it physically looks nearly identical to Earth. This is concerning, especially given its close proximity to us. We will be sending six astronauts on the SC Observer, which will be orbiting this new planet. Those we send will be tasked with monitoring this planet for any lifeforms and conducting research about its composition. These six astronauts have already been chosen and have been given their roles. They will be:

Commander SUSANNA Lock

(brief pause)

Pilot Jennifer Cole

(brief pause)

Payload Commander Bethany Matthews

(brief pause)

Mission Specialist Olivia Kane

(brief pause)

Flight Engineer Hannah Smith

(brief pause)

And Medical Officer Abigail Olsen.

(brief pause)

This mission will provide us with information on this new planet and will allow us to properly consider our next actions. We wish the newly-elected team luck on their mission.

CUT TO:

SCENE 2: SC OBSERVER, 6 DAYS LATER

Payload Commander BETH MATTHEWS checks a computer for any signs of lifeforms.

BETH MATTHEWS

It’s been nearly three days since we’ve started orbiting this planet, and fortunately there’s no sign of anything on it. I hope it stays that way.

ABIGAIL OLSEN

Well that would be boring. BETH, just imagine if we end up finding humans just like us on there and discovering that this planet is exactly identical to Earth!

BETH MATTHEWS: I’m hoping that’s not the case. Think of what complications that could bring to our own planet - this planet is already causing problems by being so close to Earth. What if it’s gravitationally pulled towards Earth and it comes straight towards it, or us?

ABIGAIL OLSEN

Geez, lighten up a little would you? It seems like you’re expecting the worst already.

BETH MATTHEWS

Oh shut up Abigail, I’m just being cautious.

ABIGAIL OLSEN

Sure you are.

ABIGAIL leaves BETH to what she’s doing, making her way to the CREW QUARTERS where she sees JENNY COLE and HANNAH SMITH sitting down next to each other, chatting animatedly.

HANNAH SMITH

Honestly, you can talk about some weird things sometimes!

JENNY COLE

There is nothing weird about thinking that octopuses are the cutest sea animals. Besides, you think it’s cute when I talk about random things!

HANNAH SMITH

(affectionately) Yeah, I do.

They see ABIGAIL approaching and turn towards her.

JENNY COLE

Hey Abigail, you okay?

ABIGAIL OLSEN

(sitting down, sighing) Yeah, I’m fine. Beth’s just frustrating me, as per usual.

JENNY COLE

Oh, so she’s being her usual pessimistic self then?

ABIGAIL OLSEN

Yep. It makes me want to slap her sometimes.

(pause)

Don’t tell her I said that though.

COMMANDER SUSANNA LOCK enters the CREW QUARTERS.

HANNAH SMITH

My lips are sealed.

COMMANDER SUSANNA LOCK

Right ladies - stop chatting, start moving. Hannah, I said I needed you down in the engine room ten minutes ago, get to it.

HANNAH SMITH

(nervously) I’m sorry Commander, I’ll head down there right now.

HANNAH gets up to leave and walks to the door, briefly stopping.

HANNAH SMITH (cont.)

I’ll see you in a bit, Jen.

HANNAH exits the CREW DECK.

JENNY COLE

Yeah, see you later babe.

COMMANDER SUSANNA LOCK

Abigail, Olivia needs you in the med-bay. She says she’s cut herself and can’t find the bandages. We don’t want her blood getting everywhere.

ABIGAIL OLSEN

Sure thing, Commander.

ABIGAIL exits the CREW DECK.

COMMANDER SUSANNA LOCK

Right Jenny, I’ll be on the bridge if you need me.

JENNY COLE

Alright Commander.

COMMANDER LOCK exits the CREW DECK.

CUT TO:

SCENE 3: SC OBSERVER - STORAGE

BETH walks towards one of the containers and grabs a food pouch.

BETH MATTHEWS

(to herself, grumbling) I’m absolutely starving. I’ve barely eaten all day.

(pause)

I might grab another one of those actually.

BETH goes to grab another food pouch. As she does so, she hears the sound of metal clanging on the floor. BETH turns around.

BETH MATTHEWS (cont.)

Hello?

Silence. BETH shrugs it off

BETH MATTHEWS (cont.)

Huh? (shrugging) Oh well.

It was probably nothing. After a few moments, BETH hears a container scraping on the floor.

BETH MATTHEWS (cont.)

(getting increasingly frustrated) Alright, who is this? Stop messing around, I’m not in the mood for games.

BETH turns around, about to leave, talking as she does so.

BETH MATTHEWS (cont.)

Abigail, if it’s you I swear to-

BETH stops dead in her tracks. Something is standing directly in front of her now.

BETH MATTHEWS (cont.)

(shocked, confused, but unafraid) What… what are you doing?

MANIPULATED VOICE (out of HANNAH)

You will be of great use to us.

BETH MATTHEWS

(still seeming unafraid) What are you talking abo-

BETH is cut off as something grabs her, startling BETH, before absorbing all her energy. BETH is unable to cry out.

(SFX: absorbing/sucking sound)

BETH’s clothes drop to the floor.

CUT TO:

SCENE 4: SC OBSERVER - STORAGE - TEN MINUTES LATER

ABIGAIL walks into STORAGE, seemingly hungry.

ABIGAIL OLSEN

Mac and cheese, where are you?

She goes over to the food pouch container, rummaging around for her mac and cheese.

ABIGAIL OLSEN (cont.)

Ooo, cookies!

She grabs her food and turns. She starts to leave, but sees a pile of clothes on the floor.

ABIGAIL OLSEN (cont.)

What the…? Who’s decided to strip in here?

She walks over to the pile of clothes and crouches down, inspecting them.

ABIGAIL OLSEN (cont.)

(she calls out) Beth?!

Silence.

ABIGAIL OLSEN (cont.)

(getting panicked) Something’s not right here.

ABIGAIL presses the button on the intercom.

ABIGAIL OLSEN

Bethany? If you hear this, please respond immediately.

Silence - there is no response. ABIGAIL leaves the clothes and runs to the BRIDGE as fast as she can, but finds the COMMANDER before she gets there.

ABIGAIL OLSEN (cont.)

(a bit out of breath) Commander, I’ve just found Beth’s clothes in storage and I haven’t seen her anywhere.

(pause)

I think she’s disappeared.

COMMANDER SUSANNA LOCK

(alarmed) What? Disappeared? How?

ABIGAIL OLSEN

I don’t know, but we need to let the rest of the crew know.

COMMANDER SUSANNA LOCK

Of course, I’ll get them all here to the Bridge.

COMMANDER SUSANNA LOCK presses a button on the nearest intercom.

COMMANDER SUSANNA LOCK

(with urgency) I need all crew on the Bridge immediately. All crew come to the Bridge immediately.

ABIGAIL and the COMMANDER walk to the BRIDGE. JENNY is already there.

JENNY COLE

(slightly alarmed) What is it Commander? What’s happened?

COMMANDER SUSANNA LOCK

We’ll explain once everyone else is here.

OLIVIA KANE arrives next, closely followed by HANNAH. JENNY goes over to HANNAH and hugs her tightly, slightly surprising HANNAH.

JENNY COLE

Oh Hannah, thank goodness you’re alright. I got a bit worried when I heard the intercom.

HANNAH SMITH

I’m glad you’re okay too.

JENNY and HANNAH walk towards the rest of the crew before sitting down.

OLIVIA KANE

(worried) Has something happened Commander?

COMMANDER SUSANNA LOCK

Yes, I’m afraid so Olivia.

ABIGAIL OLSEN

Commander, Beth’s not here.

COMMANDER SUSANNA LOCK

(disheartenedly) No, she isn’t.

OLIVIA KANE

Beth? Where is she?

COMMANDER SUSANNA LOCK

We don’t know, but Abigail believes she’s disappeared. Maybe you should explain, Abigail.

ABIGAIL OLSEN

I was in storage and I found Beth’s clothes on the ground, with no sign of her anywhere. I tried contacting her, but…

(sighs, trying not to get too upset)

…there was no response. I don’t know what else could have happened to her. She’s not here now so she must have disappeared.

OLIVIA KANE

(nervously) What do you mean disappeared? How?

ABIGAIL OLSEN

I don’t know. All I know is that she is gone and that her clothes were left behind.

JENNY COLE

But surely that can’t be possible? Beth couldn’t have just vanished into thin air.

ABIGAIL OLSEN

Well then where is she? Has anyone seen her recently?

HANNAH SMITH

No.

JENNY COLE

No, me neither.

OLIVIA KANE

I haven’t.

COMMANDER SUSANNA LOCK

Then I think the only thing we can conclude is that she’s gone. I don’t know where, I don’t know how, but she is clearly not here anymore. We all know Beth is not the type of woman to play games like this.

COMMANDER SUSANNA LOCK pauses as the crew take this information in.

COMMANDER SUSANNA LOCK (cont.)

I’ll go and report her disappearance to Mission Control.

JENNY COLE

Yes, Commander.

COMMANDER SUSANNA LOCK walks to the communications system and attempts to contact Mission Control. However, it doesn’t seem to be working.

COMMANDER SUSANNA LOCK

Huh? Come on, let me contact Mission Control!

COMMANDER SUSANNA LOCK starts to aggressively smash the keyboard.

AUTOMATED VOICE

Unable to communicate with Mission Control.

COMMANDER SUSANNA LOCK

Argh, you useless thing! Hannah, can you try and fix this please.

HANNAH joins COMMANDER SUSANNA LOCK

HANNAH SMITH

(pressing various buttons) I can’t seem to fix it, Commander. There must be problems on their end.

OLIVIA joins COMMANDER SUSANNA LOCK and HANNAH.

OLIVIA KANE

The communication’s down? (panicking) So we won’t be able to contact Mission Control at all until they fix it? How long will that take?

HANNAH SMITH

A while. It’s not a simple job.

COMMANDER SUSANNA LOCK

Well then we’ll just have to cope on our own for the foreseeable future, I’m afraid. We’ll make sure nothing else happens.

OLIVIA KANE

(trying to convince herself, taking deep breaths) Okay… okay, we’ll be alright, we’ll be fine.

COMMANDER SUSANNA LOCK, HANNAH and OLIVIA go back to the rest of the crew.

COMMANDER SUSANNA LOCK

Right, crew. From now on we need to be vigilant. If you see signs of anything unusual at all, then go and find someone - do not stay on your own.

JENNY COLE

We’ll stay safe, Commander.

COMMANDER SUSANNA LOCK

Good. I’ll be in Analysis looking at the new data we’ve collected. If anyone needs anything or feels unsafe, then please come to me.

ABIGAIL OLSEN

We will, Commander. Thank you.

COMMANDER SUSANNA LOCK exits the BRIDGE.

(pause)

ABIGAIL OLSEN (cont.)

I can’t believe Beth’s gone…

HANNAH SMITH

Me neither.

OLIVIA KANE

I just don’t understand it. Do you… do you think she was hurt?

ABIGAIL OLSEN

I really don’t know, Olivia. I hope not.

JENNY COLE

Surely we would have heard her if she was in pain?

ABIGAIL OLSEN

Yeah, she was only in storage. (sighs) I just can’t get my head around this. There must be more to it than her disappearing.

ABIGAIL starts to leave the BRIDGE.

ABIGAIL OLSEN (cont.)

I’m going to test her clothing in the lab. Maybe there’s a trace of something on there that can tell us about what happened to her.

JENNY COLE

Okay Abigail, be careful!

ABIGAIL exits the BRIDGE.

JENNY COLE (cont.)

Hannah, please stay with me. I don’t want you disappearing too.

HANNAH SMITH

I wish I could, but I need to finish my work in the engine room. I’ll be careful though, I promise.

JENNY COLE

You better be. Please don’t be too long, babe.

HANNAH SMITH

I’ll try my best.

JENNY pulls HANNAH into a hug.

JENNY COLE

Remember, if you see anything weird, please come straight back to me.

HANNAH SMITH

Of course, don’t worry.

HANNAH exits the BRIDGE.

OLIVIA KANE

If Hannah’s not staying with you, then do you mind if I do? I just feel a bit shaken if I’m being honest.

JENNY COLE

Of course I don’t mind, Olivia. You can stay on the Bridge with me. But hey, seriously, don’t worry. We’ll get through this, and you’ll never be left on your own if you don’t want to be.

OLIVIA KANE

Thanks Jenny.

JENNY COLE

Don’t mention it. Now come on, let’s get to work. I need a distraction.

CUT TO:

SCENE 5 - SC OBSERVER - THE LAB

ABIGAIL cuts a piece of BETH’S clothing off, places it into a scanner, and turns it on.

ABIGAIL OLSEN

There must be a trace of something.

The scanner gives a negative beep.

ABIGAIL OLSEN (cont.)

What..? Nothing? Surely there must be some dead skin cells on there at least.

ABIGAIL resets the scanner.

ABIGAIL OLSEN (cont.)

It must not be working right, I’ll try it again.

The scanner gives a negative beep again.

ABIGAIL OLSEN (cont.)

Oh god… She’s completely disappeared, as if she had never been there at all.

(pause)

(to herself) What’s happened to you Beth?

(pause)

The last time we spoke, I was so annoyed and infuriated with you. I told the others I could have slapped you. Now look what’s happened… (sighs guiltily)

Suddenly, the LAB door shuts. ABIGAIL turns around, and gasps. Something is standing right in front of her.

ABIGAIL OLSEN (cont.)

What’s happ- argh!

ABIGAIL briefly grimaces in pain as the energy is sucked out of her. Her clothes fall to the floor.

MANIPULATED VOICE (out of HANNAH)

One more. Four left.

(pause)

Soon we shall stand together.

CUT TO:

SCENE 6 - SC OBSERVER - THE LAB - 5 MINUTES LATER

JENNY opens the door to the LAB and walks in, before spotting a pile of clothes on the floor.

JENNY COLE

No…

JENNY rushes to the clothes, crouching down beside them.

JENNY COLE (cont.)

Please not you too Abigail...

JENNY sighs and pauses before walking over to the intercom and pressing the button.

JENNY COLE (cont.)

(sniffles, trying to hold back a sob) Pilot Jennifer Cole here. I’ve found Abigail’s clothes in the Lab. She’s… she’s gone too. I think we should all meet up on the Bridge again.

JENNY stops pressing the intercom button and runs to the BRIDGE, where OLIVIA already is, pacing. When she gets there, she sits down, her head in her hands.

OLIVIA KANE

That’s two of us gone. It won’t be long before the next one disappears, and then the next one, and so on, until there’s none of us left!

JENNY COLE

(slightly exasperated) Olivia, we will make sure this does not happen again. Please try and calm down.

COMMANDER SUSANNA LOCK and HANNAH enter the BRIDGE.

COMMANDER SUSANNA LOCK

Abigail’s disappeared too?

JENNY COLE

I think so Commander.

(silence - the crew take this information in)

Did anyone see or hear anything at all whilst Abigail was in the Lab? Where was everyone? I’ve forgotten. I know Olivia was with me but what about you, Hannah?

HANNAH SMITH

I didn’t see or hear anything. I was nowhere near the lab since I was in the Engine Room.

JENNY COLE

Oh, yeah of course, I remember now. Commander?

COMMANDER SUSANNA LOCK

Well, I was in Analysis, but I saw and heard nothing.

JENNY COLE

Wait, Analysis? Isn’t that right near the Lab though? Surely you must have at least heard something?

COMMANDER SUSANNA LOCK

(insistent) I heard nothing.

JENNY COLE

Right…

OLIVIA KANE

These disappearances can’t be coincidences. Something must have done that to Beth and Abigail. Are you sure there is no one else on board?

COMMANDEER SUSANNA LOCK

We would know if someone unauthorised was on here.

OLIVIA KANE

What if something managed to get in undetected?

COMMANDER SUSANNA LOCK

I doubt that’s possible. No one could bypass the security systems in place.

OLIVIA KANE

Not necessarily someone, Commander. But what about something?

COMMANDER SUSANNA LOCK

What do you mean?

OLIVIA KANE

I’ve been looking at the readings of activity from this planet for days now. I know there are no physical life forms on there, but I have seen really random peaks in the data.

JENNY COLE

Well what could they mean?

OLIVIA KANE

That there’s possibly something non-physical on there. Something like spirits.

COMMANDER SUSANNA LOCK

Spirits? Don’t be so stupid, spirits don’t exist.

HANNAH SMITH

The Commander’s right, there’s no such thing as spirits or ghosts.

OLIVIA KANE

I know it sounds ridiculous, but I don’t know what else those fluctuations in the data could mean.

COMMANDER SUSANNA LOCK

Have you ever considered that they could mean absolutely nothing? Slight changes in the readings are not uncommon, Olivia.

OLIVIA KANE

I know, but these are massive peaks in activity that appear for just a second. They could be easily missed. They’re not the same as the small changes we usually see. And with these disappearances, I can’t help but think that those spirits are on here, getting rid of us.

COMMANDER SUSANNA LOCK

And how do you suppose spirits could cause our crew to disappear, hm? They can’t exactly grab them, strip them naked, and then throw them out of the spacecraft.The airlock alert would have been tripped.

OLIVIA KANE

I think they’ve possessed one of us, and whoever is possessed is the one that has made Beth and Abigail disappear. I’m just not sure how they’ve made them disappear...

COMMANDER SUSANNA LOCK

Possessed?! Now you’re being utterly ridiculous.

JENNY COLE

Commander, I think Olivia could be right. Can you think of any other way to explain these disappearances?

COMMANDER SUSANNA LOCK

I’m sure there’s another more reasonable explanation for it. Who do you think has been ‘possessed’ anyway?

JENNY COLE

(slight pause) I don’t know, but I think we should stay together. Abigail and Beth disappeared when they were on their own, so we might be safer all together.

OLIVIA KANE

I agree. Even if I’m wrong, staying together is the best idea.

COMMANDER SUSANNA LOCK

(sighs) Very well.

JENNY COLE

Are you okay, Hannah? You’ve not said much.

HANNAH SMITH

I’m just still shocked about Abigail.

JENNY COLE

Yeah, I know… I miss her.

HANNAH SMITH

Me too.

JENNY COLE

What about you Commander? How do you feel about what’s happened to Beth and Abigail?

COMMANDER SUSANNA LOCK

Well, I am obviously saddened by their disappearance. I feel sorry for their families.

JENNY COLE

Yeah, of course. (brief pause) So where were you when Beth disappeared?

COMMANDER SUSANNA LOCK

I was… well I was on my way to use the lavatory, but then Abigail ran into me after she had found Beth’s clothes.

JENNY COLE

It’s interesting that you were the first one Abigail found after she had discovered Beth’s clothes… It’s also quite coincidental that Abigail was the next one to disappear,don’t you think? Considering she was the first one to find out Beth had gone.

COMMANDER SUSANNA LOCK

Just what are you trying to insinuate Jenny? You think I did it?!

JENNY COLE

You’re becoming awfully defensive, Commander. Or are you not really the Commander anymore?

COMMANDER SUSANNA LOCK

Of course I’m being defensive, I’m innocent!

OLIVIA KANE

Jenny’s right. It’s too much of a coincidence that Abigail found you first after finding Beth’s clothes, and that she was the next one to go.

COMMANDER SUSANNA LOCK

Oh not you too Olivia? I am not possessed! In fact, I don’t think anyone on here is!

JENNY COLE

Prove it. Prove you’re not the one who’s possessed. Or else I will have no other reason to believe that you’re not responsible for Beth and Abigail's disappearance.

COMMANDER SUSANNA LOCK

How exactly am I supposed to prove it? You’re setting me up for failure!

JENNY COLE

That’s not my problem. If you can’t prove it, we will lock you in your quarters whilst we decide what to do with you. You won’t be the Commander of the SC Observer anymore.

COMMANDER SUSANNA LOCK

Jenny, please. Let me think. (pause) Wait, the sign-in records!

OLIVIA KANE

What about them?

COMMANDER SUSANNA LOCK

Well, I signed into Analysis before Abigail disappeared. That proves I wasn’t with her!

HANNAH SMITH

That doesn’t prove anything.

JENNY COLE

Hannah’s right. Just because you signed into Analysis doesn’t mean you stayed in there.

OLIVIA KANE

Well, we might as well check the records anyway and see who was signed in where.

HANNAH SMITH

Well that will just waste our time.

JENNY COLE

I don’t think it will really show us anything, but I suppose there’s no harm in looking.

JENNY walks over to one of the computers and logs into the sign-in system.

JENNY COLE (cont.)

The Commander was signed into analysis when Abigail disappeared. Olivia and I were on the Bridge. But Hannah, you weren’t signed in anywhere…

COMMANDER SUSANNA LOCK

Then it must be Hannah, if anyone, who’s possessed. Not me.

HANNAH SMITH

I just forgot to sign back into the Engine Room, that’s all. It doesn’t mean anything!

JENNY COLE

Don’t worry, Hannah. I believe you.

COMMANDER SUSANNA LOCK

Of course you’d believe her.

JENNY COLE

Well you were awfully quick to push the blame onto Hannah.

COMMANDER SUSANNA LOCK

I’m sure you’d have reacted in the same way if the whole crew was suspicious of you.

JENNY COLE

Well I still don’t trust you.

COMMANDER SUSANNA LOCK

It should be Hannah that you don’t trust! No one ever forgets to sign in - it’s second nature to us.

OLIVIA KANE

It’s quite convenient that Hannah forgot to sign-in when Abigail disappeared.

HANNAH SMITH

It was an honest mistake!

JENNY COLE

She’s turning you against us Olivia, can’t you see?

OLIVIA KANE

I don’t know what to believe anymore! Honestly, I feel like I can’t trust any of you.

COMMANDER SUSANNA LOCK

It’s Hannah. It has to be her. We should lock her in her quarters immediately.

HANNAH SMITH

It’s not me!

JENNY COLE

I’m not letting you do that to her, she’s innocent!

COMMANDER SUSANNA LOCK

I am the Commander of this spacecraft and you will follow my orders.

JENNY COLE

No. Hannah could never harm anyone. She’s the most considerate and caring person I know.

COMMANDER SUSANNA LOCK

She’d have lost control over her actions if she was possessed, Jenny. She could do anything to anyone.

HANNAH SMITH

She’s just saying that to turn you against me too! She’s the one who’s actually possessed! Think of how suspicious she’s been acting, Jenny. Remember all those coincidences. She’s changed too much now, there’s no saving her. She’s dangerous to us. We should eject her from the spacecraft so she can’t kill us all.

JENNY COLE

Hannah…? That’s going too far and you know it. (pauses, realising) You say the Commander’s changed, but really, it’s you who has. The Hannah I know would never suggest killing someone, regardless of whether they’re guilty or not. She is kind and forgiving. And she never calls me Jenny. You’re not Hannah...

There’s a pause.

MANIPULATED VOICE (out of HANNAH)

(smirking) I was getting bored of pretending to be this one. Too weak. Too pathetic.

OLIVIA KANE

Oh my god…

COMMANDER SUSANNA LOCK

What are you? Why are you here?

MANIPULATED VOICE (out of HANNAH)

I am a Ristack. My kind are the sole inhabitants of Planet Ethra. For too long we have been aimlessly drifting across our planet. But now we take action.

JENNY COLE

Action? You mean the disappearances?

MANIPULATED VOICE (out of HANNAH)

In order to physically populate our planet, we need energy from physical life forms. But only I could make it here to you. When I am back on Ethra, I can use this energy to turn my kind into physical beings - half human, half Ristack. Only then can we reproduce. Only then can we replace Earth and become the superior race.

OLIVIA KANE

So that’s why Beth and Abigail just disappeared? You took the energy from them?

MANIPULATED VOICE (out of HANNAH)

I sucked all the life out of them, and transferred their energy into me.

JENNY COLE

Then why have you possessed Hannah? Why are you using her? She’s done nothing to you!

MANIPULATED VOICE (out of HANNAH)

I need her as a vessel to absorb all the energy I collect. (pause) I have not been in her for long. I took control over her in the Engine Room, actually. She was very easy to possess. So weak-willed.

JENNY COLE

Stop it! Leave her, now.

MANIPULATED VOICE (out of HANNAH)

I’m afraid I can’t do that. I still have energy to obtain.

COMMANDER SUSANNA LOCK

Jenny, restrain her!

JENNY moves towards HANNAH.

MANIPULATED VOICE (out of HANNAH)

I wouldn’t if I were you. You touch me and I can turn you into nothing.

JENNY COLE

Well then why didn’t you just kill us all at the start?

MANIPULATED VOICE (out of HANNAH)

That would have been no fun… No, I would much rather get rid of you one by one. I enjoyed seeing you turn against each other.

OLIVIA KANE

(to the crew, almost hushed tone) What do we do? We have no weapons! How will we get out of this alive?

MANIPULATED VOICE (out of HANNAH)

You won’t.

JENNY COLE

We will. Hannah’s still in there somewhere, and I’m going to find her.

MANIPULATED VOICE (out of HANNAH)

You can try, but you will fail. I had hoped to save you till last Jenny, so you could feel the pain of watching the woman you love kill your friends, and eventually you. But I’m afraid you will be next.

HANNAH lunges towards JENNY but JENNY dodges her grasp, moving away from her.

COMMANDER SUSANNA LOCK

Jenny, be careful!

JENNY COLE

You said Hannah was weak and pathetic. But you’re wrong. You don’t know Hannah like I do. She’s the strongest woman I know, and I’ll prove it.

JENNY approaches HANNAH carefully.

JENNY COLE (cont.)

Hannah? It’s Jen. I know you feel like you’ve lost all control, but you haven’t. This thing that’s in you - you can get rid of it. I’ve always known how strong you are Hannah. You’ve faced so much cruelty, but still you are always so kind. Let me hold your hand, Hannah.

JENNY reaches out and grabs HANNAH’s hand.

MANIPULATED VOICE (out of HANNAH)

(happily) You fool!

OLIVIA KANE

Jenny!

JENNY COLE

I’m here with you Hannah. You’re not alone, we can do this together.

THE RISTACK attempts to absorb JENNY’s energy but is failing.

HANNAH SMITH

(as herself now) Jenny…? Argh!

THE RISTACK takes over HANNAH again.

MANIPULATED VOICE (out of HANNAH)

You will not succeed. I will still have control!

JENNY COLE

You’re wrong. Hannah’s managed to gain control now, and she can do it again!

MANIPULATED VOICE (out of HANNAH)

I will absorb all the energy from you.

THE RISTACK attempts to absorb JENNY’s energy again. She just manages to succeed, but it’s a slower process this time. JENNY feels the life draining out of her, but she doesn’t give up.

JENNY COLE

(can hear her getting exhausted) Hannah, please! I don’t know how much longer I can last. I know you can do it, I’ll always believe in you!

MANIPULATED VOICE (out of HANNAH)

No! I will be in cont-

HANNAH manages to take back control. JENNY’S energy has stopped being absorbed.

HANNAH SMITH

No, I am in control!

JENNY COLE

(still exhausted, but relieved) Hannah!

HANNAH SMITH

Oh Jen, I am so glad to- agh!

HANNAH opens her mouth and an orb comes out of it. The orb dissipates in front of them, leaving nothing behind. HANNAH slumps down onto the floor, still holding JENNY’s hand.

JENNY COLE

Hannah? Hannah are you okay?!

HANNAH SMITH

(weakly) I am now… That thing’s used up most of my energy, but I’ll recover.

JENNY COLE

I’m so sorry this has happened to you.

HANNAH SMITH

It’s not your fault, Jen. I’m just glad I’m back now.

JENNY COLE

I’m so proud of you. You are so strong. I love you.

HANNAH SMITH

I love you too. (pause, then horrified) The others! Beth and Abigail… I killed them. Oh god, I’m so sorry.

OLIVIA KANE

You were possessed, Hannah. You didn’t kill them. That spirit did.

JENNY COLE

Don’t blame yourself. You’re the one who’s saved us. You got rid of that spirit from your body, and it’s gone now.

COMMANDER SUSANNA LOCK

You’ve done us all a great service.

HANNAH SMITH

Thank you, Commander.

OLIVIA KANE

(going over to the monitor) Oh my god, the planet’s gone! The Ristack must have given up their quest for superiority and gone elsewhere. Or maybe they dissipated too?

JENNY COLE

Honestly Olivia, as long as it’s gone, I don’t care how.

HANNAH SMITH

I’ll try and see if Mission Control have fixed their communications.

JENNY COLE

Not now, Hannah. You need to rest. I’ll take you to the med-bay. We’re safe now.

(brief pause)

We have control.